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Discovering Public Relations
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Discovering Public Relations
An Introduction to Creative and Strategic Practices

August 2020 | 400 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc
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Recipient of a 2021 Most Promising New Textbook Award from the Textbook & Academic Authors Association (TAA)

Discovering Public Relations introduces students to the field of PR in a practical, applied, and hands-on way that prepares them for the modern workplace. Author Karen Freberg guides students through the evolution of contemporary PR practices with an emphasis on social media, digital communication, creativity, and diversity. Understanding that innovation alone can’t create success, Freberg shows students how to use, choose, and implement evidence-based practices to guide their strategic campaigns. The text will transform today’s students into tomorrow’s successful PR professionals by giving them the tools to think creatively, innovate effectively, and deploy research-backed tactics for successful campaigns.
Included with this title:

The password-protected Instructor Resource Site (formally known as SAGE Edge) offers access to all text-specific resources, including a test bank and editable, chapter-specific PowerPoint® slides. Learn more.
 
Preface and Acknowledgments
 
About the Author
 
PART I: FOUNDATIONS
 
Chapter 1. An Introduction to Public Relations
What Is Public Relations?

 
How Do We Build Relationships in Public Relations?

 
Where Do We Find Public Relations in Action?

 
What Do We Do as PR Professionals?

 
How Do We Work With Professionals in Related Fields?

 
How Do We Use Storytelling?

 
Where Are We Headed?

 
 
Chapter 2. Historical Contexts and Today’s Practices
How Did the Field of Public Relations Begin?

 
How Do the Four Models Function?

 
Who Are the Notable Figures of Public Relations?

 
The Four Models Today: What Can Recent Campaigns Teach Us?

 
Why Study PR Practices, Research, and Theories?

 
Social Media: What Is Its Impact on Public Relations?

 
 
Chapter 3. Ethics and the Law
What Are Ethics and Ethical Conduct?

 
What Codes of Ethics Do We Follow?

 
Ethical Dilemmas: What Can Recent Campaigns Teach Us?

 
What Legal Matters Do We Need to Know About?

 
What Are Best Practices for Functioning Ethically and Legally?

 
 
Chapter 4. Diversity and Inclusion
What Do Diversity and Inclusion Mean?

 
How Diverse and Inclusive Is Public Relations?

 
What Benefits Do Diversity and Inclusion Bring to Public Relations?

 
What Best Practices Can Make Public Relations More Diverse and Inclusive?

 
 
Chapter 5. Research and Evidence-Based Practices
What Is Research? How Does It Function in Public Relations?

 
What Are Evidence-Based Practices for Research?

 
What Research Methods Do We Use in Public Relations?

 
What Are Best Practices for Conducting, Evaluating, and Applying Research?

 
 
Chapter 6. Branding
What Is Branding?

 
How Do We Support Clients’ Brands in Public Relations?

 
What Is a Personal Brand? How Do We Create One?

 
What Are Best Practices for Client and Personal Branding?

 
 
Chapter 7. Writing
What Does It Mean to Write for Public Relations?

 
What Types of Writing Do PR Professionals Compose?

 
What Are Helpful Tools for Writing in Public Relations?

 
 
PART II: APPLICATIONS
 
Chapter 8. Strategic Campaigns
What Is a PR Campaign?

 
What Are the Steps for Conducting a Successful PR Campaign?

 
What Are the RACE and ROPE Models for Conducting Campaigns?

 
How Does the Strategic Model Benefit Campaigns?

 
How Does the PESO Model for Media Promote Campaigns?

 
 
Chapter 9. Audiences and Relationship Management
How Do We Identify Audiences?

 
Who Are Our Audiences? How Do We Interact With Them?

 
What Is Relationship Management?

 
 
Chapter 10. Creative Content
How Do Marketing Tools Connect Our Content With Our Audiences?

 
How Do We Describe and Share Content?

 
What Is a Message Strategy?

 
What Types of Content Are Best for Different Channels?

 
How Does Visual, Audio, and Multimedia Content Work?

 
What Are Best Practices for Creating Content?

 
 
Chapter 11. Management and Business Acumen
What Myths Exist Among Business and PR Academics and Professionals?

 
What Do We Need to Succeed in a Business Setting?

 
Whom Do We Work With in the Business Setting?

 
How Does Our Approach Benefit Business?

 
What Common Goals Do We Pursue With Business and Management?

 
What Are Best Practices for Conducting Business?

 
 
Chapter 12. Measurement and Evaluation
Why Are Measurement and Evaluation Important?

 
What Types of Measurement and Evaluation Do We Use?

 
What Methods Do We Use for Measuring and Evaluating?

 
What Metrics Do We Use to Evaluate a Campaign?

 
What Are Industry Standards for Measurement and Evaluation?

 
What Are Best Practices for Measurement and Evaluation?

 
 
Chapter 13. Careers
What Skills and Experience Do We Need to Work in Public Relations?

 
What Types of Careers Does Public Relations Offer?

 
How Do We Decide Where to Work?

 
What Are Best Practices for Building a Career in Public Relations?

 
 
Chapter 14. Specializations
Reputation Management: What Is It? How Is It Done?

 
Crisis Communication: What Is It? How Is It Done?

 
Influencer Marketing: What Is It? How Is It Done?

 
Global Public Relations: What Is It? How Is It Done?

 
Social Media Public Relations: What Is It? How Is It Done?

 
Entertainment and Sports Public Relations: What Is It? How Is It Done?

 
Nonprofit Public Relations: What Is It? How Is It Done?

 
Politics Public Relations: What Is It? How Is It Done?

 
 
PART III: SUMMARY
 
Chapter 15. The Future
Where Are We Headed? What Are the Opportunities and Obstacles?

 
What Have We Learned So Far?

 
Who Are These Fine New Professionals? Meet Candice, Abbie, Michael, and Megan

 
What Are Best Practices for Advancing Your Future?

 
 
Glossary
 
References
 
Index

Supplements

Instructor Resources
edge.sagepub.com/frebergpr


For additional information, custom options, or to request a personalized walkthrough of these resources, please contact your sales representative.

LMS cartridge included with this title for use in Blackboard, Canvas, Brightspace by Desire2Learn (D2L), and Moodle

The LMS cartridge makes it easy to import this title’s instructor resources into your learning management system (LMS). These resources include:

  • Test banks
  • Editable chapter-specific PowerPoint® slides
  • Sample course syllabi
  • Lecture notes
  • All tables and figures from the textbook 
Don’t use an LMS platform?

You can still access all of the same online resources for this title via the password-protected Instructor Resource Site.
Student Resources

edge.sagepub.com/frebergpr

 

The open-access Student Study Site makes it easy for students to maximize their study time, anywhere, anytime. It offers flashcards that strengthen understanding of key terms and concepts, as well as learning objectives that reinforce the most important material.

“Karen Freberg is on the cutting edge of public relations cases, careers, and tips. Her book is full of relevant examples of how to do PR and why even the most minor details matter.”

Dylan McLemore
University of Central Arkansas

“This is a good book for both students exploring the world of public relations and those who will be tomorrow's practitioners. It is relevant and informative—a book that will connect well with this generation of students.”

Cessna Winslow
Tarleton State University

“This is the most current PR text that I've found. It embraces all of the new trends and technologies and is extremely forward thinking. It does it all with excellent examples and thought-provoking questions.”

Robert Nanney
The University of Tennessee at Martin

Covered everything I needed to teach my students in a concise, easy to understand manner. Provided solid examples and was in a good order of presentation.

Meaghan Ruelas
Comm/Media/Prof Stds Div, St John's Clg/Clg Prof Studies
March 15, 2022
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Current content, student friendly, industry focused

Dr Carrie Sipes
Communication/Journalism, Shippensburg Univ Of Penn
July 28, 2021
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Excellent well organized

Ms Timi Poeppelman
Communication Studies, California St Univ-Sacramento
August 17, 2021
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Lively, practical but with clear connections to theory, great examples and discussion/activity ideas.

Ms Magda Sylwestrowicz
Communications, IUBH - International University of Applied Sciences Bad Honnef
April 6, 2021
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Key features
KEY FEATURES:
  • The text is aligned with guidelines from the 2018 report put forth by the Commission on Public Relations Education (CPRE).
  • Chapter-opening learning objectives identify what students should be able to accomplish upon completing the reading.
  • Infographics convey information to students in a visually appealing way that makes learning easier.
  • Game Changer features spotlight professionals in different areas of public relations who share their wisdom with the future generation of public relations scholars.
  • Building Your Brand exercises help students apply their skills from the chapter to build their own personal brand as a rising PR professional.
  • Building Your Portfolio activities allow students to apply what they have learned in the chapter to produce work that can be added to their digital or physical portfolio to show their future employers.
  • Summaries, key terms, and discussion questions at the conclusion of chapters allow students to review content to reinforce learning.
  • End-of-chapter APR Exam sections show how chapter content aligns with the Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) exam.

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